Survival and behavior of the solitary bee Centris analis under greenhouse conditions

Abstract Maintaining pollinators in greenhouses can provide a semi-field environment to investigate the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on bee activity, including pesticide exposure, while enabling studies of behavioral ecology under controlled but realistic conditions. In this study, we evaluated the survival, behavior, and nesting of the solitary bee Centris analis under greenhouse conditions to identify the conditions required to maintain this species in semi-field experiments. Greenhouses were constructed and supplied with floral resources known to be used by C. analis . Male and female bees were released, and survival was monitored daily. Survival was significantly influenced by sex and mating status, with mated males exhibiting longer survival than unmated individuals. Bees survived for more than 30 days under greenhouse conditions, and females consistently outlived males. Nest establishment was primarily driven by the density of Malpighia emarginata flowers rather than female lifespan. Behavioral observations showed that females were most active between 10:00 and 13:00. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that C. analis can be maintained under semi-field (greenhouse) conditions, where individuals exhibited survival and behavioral patterns similar to those observed in the field. However, improving nesting success remains necessary for studies focusing on reproduction. Overall, our findings provide a practical framework for future studies in behavioral ecology, ecotoxicology, and other semi-field experiments with Neotropical solitary bees.